Premal Patel on Bringing YANGA Unplugged to India: “The World Favors the Doers”

The author of the internationally acclaimed book shares why India was always the natural next step the meaning behind YANGA and how resilience roots and action form the heart of his philosophyWith YANGA Unplugged already receiving acclaim across the UK Europe the US and the Middle East Premal Patel now brings his inspiring blend of storytelling ancestral wisdom and practical leadership tools to Indian readers In this conversation he opens up about the personal experiences that shaped the book why its themes are deeply relevant to India and the one message he hopes readers will carry forwardQ1YANGA Unpluggedhas already received international success Why bring it to India nowThe book has received appreciation in the UK parts of Europe the US and the Middle East and for that I feel very honoured Nevertheless India has always felt like the logical next step The themes in YANGA Unpluggedfamily wisdom resilience and the idea of remaining rooted while moving forwardare part of the cultural fabric in India I wish to provide readers not just stories but practical tools and reflections to help them halt reconnect and act with intentionQ 2 The title itself is intriguing What does ldquoYANGArdquo meanYANGA is a word I came across in West Africa It signifies resilience selfbelief confidence and a highly assertive and positive disposition I wanted a word that encompassed all these traits I subsequently framed it as Your Actions Nourish Growth Ambitions This is the essence of the bookyour actions matter because the world rewards those who act not those whosit backQ3 Your personal story seems to shape much of the book Could you share some of that journeyMy father died in a car accident when I was only 10 months old Even that early in life it was a loss that reverberated throughout the rest of my life My grandfather retired early from Africa brought us to the UK and built a life for us My mother was 22 widowed and became a mother and father at the same time Their values and the resilience and sacrifice each made profoundly shaped the individual I became I also faced bullyingat school the challenges of being a firstgeneration immigrant and over the years built asuccessfulcorporate career that spanned three continents I started in banking and moved on to work atVisa American Express andSainsburys leading large teams in the Middle Eastand UKThroughout my corporate journey I earned the label of ldquocorporate connectorrdquoand someone whobuildsconnections acrossdiversecultures and peopleQ4 In a crowded selfhelp and leadership space what makesYANGA UnpluggeddifferentYANGA Unplugged embodies a practical application of leadershipit highlights what works in reality It offers a rendition of my life in the form of stories that do not leave out the bad or the failed choices and I believe the honesty is what resonates It is also the only book that I know of that engages wisdom of the ancestors and preference of modern leaders to distil leadership insights and practical tools for peoplersquos usein todays fastpaced world I vividly recall my stories of the importance of writing your plans down I describethe importance ofenergy budgeting just the way you do your money budgeting You will gain the clarity that you seek not from thinking but from actionQ5 Why do you believe the book will resonate with Indian readers in particularIt touches upon deeply ingrained valuesfamily roots resilience and ambition It doesnrsquot matter if you are a young entrepreneur a midcareer professional at a crossroads or a person who feels stuck you will see yourself reflected in these pages There is also a growing interest in India for purposedriven literature that combines selfhelp and cultural insight YANGA Unplugged is positioned perfectly at that intersectionQ6 If you had to leave Indian readers with one key message fromYANGA Unplugged what would it beThis book is more than my story it is an invitation Donrsquot put things off until tomorrow Donrsquot think too much Get started The world favors the doers Even negative experiences can lead to personal growth It is always the right time to begin something new Irsquom 56 and still beginning a new chapter in my life

Premal Patel on Bringing YANGA Unplugged to India: “The World Favors the Doers”

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Premal Patel on Bringing YANGA Unplugged to India: “The World Favors the Doers”

Other Articles

Mid-Day Fast